Leveraging Virtual Primary Care To Manage Ongoing Chronic Condition Care

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control report that 90% of the $4.5 trillion spent annually on domestic healthcare goes to address chronic physical and mental health conditions, which means that support for chronic care should be top of mind at every organization. 

Chronic conditions like asthma, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes often require regular attention from care providers. The good news is that there are now more options for employees to access primary care solutions virtually anytime they need support. Through digital platforms like Sydney^SM Health, employees can find ongoing care that easily fits into their daily routines — boosting their quality of life, work attendance, and productivity — while also lowering costs. 

Support Employees With Ongoing Care For Chronic Conditions

Virtual primary care can help individuals develop an ongoing relationship with providers, create and refine treatment plans for chronic conditions, and schedule ongoing care visits. The provider-patient relationship is enhanced through online chat, video, and other digital tools. Virtual appointments are easier to keep than in-office visits, saving time and costs.

Regular care is key to successfully managing conditions like obesity, which can impact every aspect of health. Since virtual care is convenient and expands access to specialized support, it’s easier for employees to pursue regular care for their needs. This means a greater connection to resources regardless of location (such as rural areas) or shortage of qualified specialists and facilities.

Together, primary care and digitally enabled healthcare solutions can provide a reliable foundation for engagement with chronic condition management.

Connected Care Improves Outcomes And Lowers Costs

Virtual primary care can provide continuity and consistency for both employees and care providers. A digital front door like the Sydney app creates a central access point to medical reports and test results, reducing errors and allowing care teams to minimize treatment delays. 

Virtual care also makes it easier to remotely monitor symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle changes. This heightened tracking and awareness can be a game-changer for issues like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, providing deeper insights into patterns and opportunities for effective intervention. 

Streamlined symptom tracking also empowers employees and care providers to partner together to actively manage health concerns. This makes symptoms less likely to be ignored, forgotten, or left unresolved, driving better health outcomes. Employees can stay on top of their chronic health conditions and even prevent hospital stays, all of which contribute to lower organizational healthcare costs, while also increasing longevity and quality of life.

Virtual Primary Care Reimagines Whole-Person Support

According to internal Anthem data, one in three people with a chronic physical condition also has a behavioral health condition. Integrating behavioral health support into ongoing primary care reinforces whole-person health support. This promotes a holistic approach to healthcare, addressing the known synergies between chronic medical conditions and mental health issues.

Virtual healthcare also supports everyday primary care services like annual wellness visits, urgent care visits, prescription refills, minor condition treatments, and cold or flu care. Virtual-first care options provide proactive and consistent care, drive more timely health visits and treatments, improve well-being, and lower costs for both employers and employees. Today’s virtual healthcare is a win-win for organizations and their employees.

Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan.